CHAPTER XXIV

EVERY VILLAGE A REPUBLIC

My idea of village Swaraj is that it is a complete
republic, independent of its neighbours for its own
vital wants and yet interdependent for many others in
which dependence is necessary. Thus every village's first
concern will be to grow its own food crops, and cotton
for its cloth. It should have a reserve for its cattle, re-
creation and playground for adults and children. Then
if there is more land available, it will grow useful money
crops, thus excluding ganja, tobacco, opium and the
like. •

The village will maintain a village theatre, school
and public hall. It will have its own waterworks ensur-
ing clean water supply. This can be done through
controlled wells or tanks. Education will be compulsory
up to the final Basic course. As far as possible every
activity will be conducted on the co-operative basis.
There will be no castes such as we have today with
their graded untouchability.
Harijan, 26-7-'42

Non-violence with its technique of Satyagraha and
non-co-operation will be the sanction of the village
community. There will be a compulsory service of
village guards who will be selected by rotation from the
register maintained by the village. The government of
the village will be conducted by a Panchayat of five
persons annually elected by the adult villagers, male
and female, possessing minimum prescribed qualifications.

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